The Bologna Licensing Trade Fair/Kids (BLTF/K) is set to make a significant impact at its 18th edition, from March 31 to April 3, 2025, within the 62nd Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF). This year, it introduces exciting new areas, such as the Arts Licensing Area and the new Game Business centre, enhancing its role as a premier international licensing event for brands targeting children, teens, and young adults.
The BLTF/K has established itself as a vital networking platform in the licensing field, attracting over 800 brands and 5000 professional visitors in the previous edition. In 2024, BCBF welcomed more than 1,500 exhibitors and approximately 31,000 visitors from 94 countries, solidifying its status as the leading global gathering for children’s publishing.
The BLTF/K aims to foster collaboration and innovation, by offering tailored matchmaking services that connect professionals attending the show. In fact, a new matchmaking platform is set to facilitate connections among all professionals attending BCBF areas, including publishers, licensing professionals, retailers, media content producers and gaming companies.
Participants can pitch their IPs to a varied world of international content and licensing professionals, including licensees and retailers. An exhibition area is accessible for all companies that wish to present their brands; for those looking to engage in business without the commitment of a booth, BLTF/K has conceived options like booking a table or office at the Licensing Business Lounge, one of the best-sellers of the next edition of the show.
The Bologna Licensing Awards will also take its momentum, recognizing excellence within the licensing industry, with special attention in 2025 on the Best Licensed Game Award, which celebrates outstanding video game adaptations for young audiences.
The new Arts Licensing Area
The Arts Licensing Area is a new exhibition space designed to merge the worlds of licensing and illustration. This area will be strategically positioned between the Licensing Hall and Publishing halls, providing professional illustrators and Arts Licensing agencies with an opportunity to showcase their work to a broader audience. The strategic location aims to maximize visibility among licensing, media, and publishing professionals attending the show.
Live the Bologna Experience
Are you a Media Content provider, Gaming company, Toy manufacturer, or Licensor interested in experiencing Bologna? Are you a licensee or retailer and you wish to meet BCBF and BLTF/K exhibitors? Write to licensing@bolognafiere.it to get further info on how to improve your experience in Bologna!
TV/Film Rights Centre and Games Business Centre
The TV/Film Rights Centre and the Games Business Centre are designed to bridge the gap between publishing and audiovisual content: the TV/Film Rights Centre will provide a dedicated space for audiovisual producers to connect with publishers and literary agents interested in adapting book properties into films or TV series.
In 2024, this centre facilitated over 350 matchmaking meetings, linking producers with top players in the publishing industry.
The new Games Business Centre, created by the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and the Frankfurter Buchmesse, will cater to gaming professionals looking to network with publishers and licensing experts.
Additionally, a brand-new Toy Zone, located between the BLTF/K Area and Hall 30, will be devoted to Toy companies which want to liaise with the publishing and licensing industry.
The International Kids Licensing Days (IKLD)
The 5th edition of IKLD will occur during the fair, featuring three days of in-depth discussions on critical topics related to children’s content. Organized in collaboration with Licensing Magazine, this year’s IKLD will spotlight Gaming, Media Content, YouTube, Fandom trends, together with unmissable licensing anniversaries, among the several topics.
Licensing Portfolio Review
After the successful inaugural edition in 2024, that saw more than 200 speed-dating meetings organised, the Licensing Portfolio Reviews are back next April. This initiative connects consumer goods, gaming and audiovisual companies with emerging talents in illustration and design, fostering new business opportunities.
Packed with new prospects and well-established meeting areas, BLTF/K 2025 is an unmissable chance for licensors, licensees, agents, publishers, and retailers to strengthen their business on an international level. Bologna is a comprehensive experience for all attendees, making it a pivotal event in the global children’s content landscape.
